Spate often describes negative occurrences, suggesting a sudden surge that feels overwhelming. Local hospitals are dealing with a spate of Covid-19 cases.
Pro Tip 2/3
Temporal Cluster
A spate indicates events happen close together in time, implying a sense of urgency or intensity. After the scandal, there was a spate of resignations from the board.
Pro Tip 3/3
Connotation of Excess
Using spate implies there are more events than usual, often to the point of being excessive or hard to manage. A spate of holiday bookings followed the lift of travel restrictions.